66 homes at Mauldeth Road, Manchester

What was proposed

The application proposed 66 homes, associated access, parking, infrastructure and landscaping, including 13 discounted-market apartments.

“Proposal Erection of up to 66 no. dwellings (53 no. dwellinghouses and 13 no. apartments – (Class C3) with associated access, car parking, infrastructure and landscaping…”

“The application relates to the proposed redevelopment of Burnage Cricket Club which has been vacant for several years to provide a residential development comprising a mixture of 53 dwellinghouses and 13 apartments (66 units total).”

Officer report

The site and its surroundings

The approximately 0.98-hectare former cricket club was vacant, overgrown and surrounded mainly by residential properties, roads and commercial uses.

“The application site covers approximately 0.98 hectares and comprises the former Burnage Cricket Club, located at the junction of Kingsway and Mauldeth Road which is understood to have ceased operating over 6 years ago and is currently in an unkempt condition.”

“The site is bounded to the north and east by two-storey residential properties along Kingsway, Burnside Drive, and Brookthorpe Avenue respectively. To the south-west corner, there are several single and two-storey commercial buildings, a vacant residential property, and a group of disused single-storey structures that previously served the club and were most recently occupied by an authorised mosque.”

Officer report

Earlier site problems

After cricket use ended, the site experienced unauthorised activities, fly-tipping, temporary events, complaints, anti-social behaviour and criminal activity.

“Following the end of its use by the cricket club, the application site has experienced a series of environmental and planning-related issues. These have included unauthorised activities that have prompted enforcement action, such as the creation of a car park at the northern end of the site, the dumping of imported materials and frequent complaints regarding fly-tipping and the general condition of the land.”

“The vacant building on the site has also been the subject of numerous complaints, particularly concerning unauthorised use, anti-social behaviour and criminal activity.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers considered the housing, design, residential amenity, highway effects and cricket mitigation acceptable, recommending approval subject to a legal agreement.

“The site is situated within an area of the city where residential development is considered acceptable in principle and would deliver a significant proportion of much- needed family housing. In this context, the development is considered to be in accordance with Core Strategy Policies H1 (Overall Housing Provision) and H6 (Housing Mix).”

“In addition, the design, scale, and appearance of the proposed development is considered appropriate given the surrounding context and its relationship with neighbouring buildings. The scheme would make efficient use of the available land and integrate well into its surroundings, delivering social, environmental, and economic benefits to the local area.”

Officer report

What people said

Most residents objected, citing traffic, parking, density, services, green-space loss, amenity, ecology, construction disruption, drainage and cricket mitigation concerns.

“- The construction process for a development of this scale would bring significant disruption to the area, including noise, dust, and construction traffic.”

“- The proposal seeks to justify the loss of the cricket ground by remaking it within an existing sports ground. This is not replacing it, because the land that is being used is already a sports ground. It would only be a replacement if the land for the new cricket ground was not a current sports ground.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector criticised density, services, cricket mitigation, consultation and design, while the applicant’s agent highlighted the vacant site, housing, consultation and proposed benefits.

What members debated

Members questioned cricket maintenance, local affordable-housing access, traffic from nearby development, green-space loss, wider highway effects and the site’s period of disuse.

“Councillor Rawson expressed concerns over the cricket mitigation plans and 5 year commitment from the city council in maintaining the site. He asked if there was any way to ringfence the affordable housing on this site for local residents.”

“Councillor Richards concurred with Councillor Rawson’s concerns over the city council’s 5 year commitment on the site. She noted the cumulative impact over the loss of green space in the area, noting that affordable housing was needed but so were these green spaces.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

Councillor Andrews moved the officer recommendation and Councillor Rawson seconded it before the committee resolved to be minded to approve.

“Councillor Andrews moved the officer’s recommendation.”

“The Committee resolved to be Minded to Approve for the application, for the reasons and subject to the conditions in the officer’s reports, subject to a Section 106 agreement to ensure affordable housing provision and reprovision of cricket offer at Cringle Fields.”

Minutes